Material-handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A material-handling apparatus comprising a floor-supported traveling stacker unit having a horizontally movable load carrier supported for vertical movement along a vertical mast horizontally movable along parallel aisles between tiered rows of storage compartments and an overhead carrier or transfer unit movable transversely of the storage aisles at one end thereof having vertically movable means to which the upper part of the mast of the stacker unit is temporarily connected to raise the stacker unit from the floor and move it from the end of one storage aisle to another.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Stuart A. Martin Munson, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 797,571 [22] Filed Feb. 7, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignee McNeil Corporation Akron, Ohio [54] MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 214/16.4, 104/126 [51] Int. Cl .1 365g 1/06 [50] Field ot'Search 214/1642, 392; 104/124, 126

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,965 10/1901 Weimar 104/126 4/1940 Dafnis 3,432,046 3/1969 Krusinski.. 2l4/l6.4(2)

3,485,390 12/1969 Atwater 2l4/l6.4(2) FOREIGN PATENTS 992,513 5/1965 Great Britain 214/1642 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney-Watts, Hoffmann, Fisher & Heinke ABSTRACT: A material-handling apparatus comprising a floor-supported traveling stacker unit having a horizontally movable load carrier supported for vertical movement along a vertical mast horizontally movable along parallel aisles between tiered rows of storage compartments and an overhead carrier or transfer unit movable transversely of the storage aisles at one end thereof having vertically movable means to which the upper part of the mast of the stacker unit is temporarily connected to raise the stacker unit from the floor and move it from the end of one storage aisle to another.

PATENTED'JUH 8:971 3583583 sum 1 [1F 4 5/ I I 20 INVENTOR.

I STUAET A. MART/M BY mam/n1,

5mm M ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED JUN 8I97l 3583.583

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66 Fig. 4

INVENTOR.

i: STUART A. MA ET/N {luv Z BY mm 7 Mim i A TTOENE Y5 PATENTEU JUN 8|97l 3583; 583

sum 3 or 4 INVENTOR. STUART A. MART/N BYQ/ IQ/ M 6%? M ATTOQNEYG.

PATENIED Jun 8I97l 3} 583,' 583 sum u or 4 INVENTOR. STUART A. MART/N WMQ/ {m 4 TTOENEYS.

MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to manual and automatic material-handling apparatus for moving material between loading and/or unloading stations and tiered rows of storage compartments arranged along one or both sides of a plurality of parallel aisles or between such storage compartments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a novel and improved material-handling apparatus, for transferring material between loading and/or unloading stations and storage compartments arranged in tiered rows along one or both sides of a plurality of aisles or between such storage compartments, comprising a stacker unit having a horizontally movable load support member vertically movable along a floor-supported vertical mast horizontally movable along aisles between tiered rows of storage compartments and an overhead carrier unit movable transversely along one end of the aisles, the stacker and carrier units having vertically movable means adapted to be temporarily connected for raising the stacker unit fromthe floor and transferring it from the end of one aisle to another.

DESCRIPTION This invention resides in certain constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts and in their mode of operation and further advantages thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a storage area serviced by material handling apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the stacker unit omitted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the right-hand por tion of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the upper righthand portion of FIG. I.

The material-handling apparatus includes a floor-running stacker unit A and an overhead transfer unit B. The floorrunning unit A moves along selected ones of parallel floorsupported tracks C in storage stack aisles D between parallel rows E of storage compartments F formed by a framework G of structural members with the individual storage compartments arranged in tiered rows of side-by-side compartments. A home station is provided adjacent to the left-hand end of the near row E where loads L are picked up or deposited by the stacker unit A for transferring to or from the storage area. The overhead transfer unit B is movable along an overhead track H at the left-hand ends of the rows E, as viewed in FIG. I. The tracks C extend to the left beyond the rows of storage compartments and across a so-called stacker transfer aisle K. The floorrunning stacker unit moves independently of the transfer unit B along the storage aisles D between the rows of storage compartments, on the tracks C. When it is desired to transfer the stacker unit A from one aisle D to another or to the home station at the near end of the aisle K, if it is an aisle D remote from the home station, it is moved into the transfer aisle K and connected to the overhead transfer unit B for movement along the transfer aisle K transversely of the direction of its move ment between the rows of storage compartments.

The stacker unit A includes a self-propelled carriage or car 10 including a frame 11 which carries a vertically extending mast assembly 12 along which a load carrier 14 is vertically movable. The load carrier 14 is provided with a poweroperated horizontally extendable load support 16. The carriage 10 is generally elongated in the direction of its movement in the aisles D, is relatively narrow to accommodate close spacing of the oppositely facing parallel rows of storage compartments and is supported and moved in the aisles D by running gear including wheels 18 and 20 arranged in tandem and which ride on the rails which form the tracks C. The wheels of the stacker unit are driven by reversible motors 22 and 24, respectively, which may be either electric or hydraulic motors. The mast assembly 12 extends upward from the frame 11 of the car or carriage I0 and supports the load carrier 14 which is movable vertically therealong by a hoist 26 connected thereto by a cable 28. The load support 16 on the carrier 14 is movable by power, in a manner understood in the art, transversely of the aisles D into the home station or the storage compartments to deposit or pick up a load at the home station or in a selected storage compartment. The upper end of the vertical mast assembly I2 is stabilized and guided as the stacker unit moves in the aisles D by overhead T shaped structural members 30 located vertically above the tracks C opposite sides of which member 30 are engaged by rollers 32 carried by the stacker unit A.

The overhead transfer unit B comprises a generally rectangular horizontal framework 40 supported by and movable along the overhead trackway H comprising a pair of overhead, horizontally spaced I-shaped rails 42 and 44 by motordriven wheeled trucks M connected to the framework adjacent to the comers thereof. The rails 42 and 44 are connected to the undersides of overhead structural members 46 connected to the top of the structural members G forming the storage stacks and vertical columns 48 spaced therefrom across the transfer aisle K. The framework 40 includes two spaced, generally longitudinal beam assemblies 50 and 52 extending parallel with the length of the transfer aisle and connected together by a tie frame including two parallel transverse beam assemblies 54 and 56.

The transfer unit B includes a built-up structure extend ing downwardly from the framework 40 and comprising two vertical boxlike columns 62, 64 connected to the left-hand end of the frame structure 40, as viewed in FIG. I, and extending downwardly therefrom an appreciate distance. Braces 66, 68 are connected to the lower ends of the column 62, 64 and to the framework 40 adjacent to the righthand end thereof. The columns 62, 64 are spaced lengthwise of the transfer runway K as clearly indicated in FIG. 3, and slidably received therebetween a vertically movable assembly 70 guided for vertical movement in the built-up structure 60 by rollers located adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof at both sides carried by the columns 62, 64 and engaging suitable guides on the adjacent sides of the vertically movable assembly 70. The assembly 70 is adapted to be moved vertically by a reciprocating-type fluid pressure actuated motor 74, the cylinder of which is pivotally connected to a bracket at the underside of the framework 40 and the piston rod of which is pivotally connected to the assembly 70.

The right-hand side of the assembly 70, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4, and the front side, as viewed in FIG. 3, is provided with upper brackets 76, 78 and lower brackets 80, 82 adapted to engage underneath stud shafts 84, 86, respectively, projecting from opposite sides of the mast 12 of the stacker unit A when the stacker unit A is moved to a position within the transfer unit B, that is, to the position shown in FIG. I. When the stacker unit A is in this position it can be raised clear of the floor rail C by actuation of the motor 74 to raise the vertically movable assembly 70 and then transported by the transfer unit B lengthwise of the transfer aisle K and positioned either at the home station or in alignment with one of the aisles D of the stack area. While in the transfer aisle K the upper end of the stacker unit A is stabilized by the engagement of the rollers 32 with opposite sides of a T-shaped structural member 88 fixed to the underside of the framework 40 and forming a continuation of the T-shaped member 30. The height of the web of the T-shaped member 88 is such that the rollers 32 continue to contact it throughout the vertical movement of the stacker unit A preparatory to being transferred along the runway H and. the transfer aisle K.

The entire system is electrified in a manner well understood in the art and the electrification and control equipment thereof is not shown in any detail or described. The current collectors 90, at the top of the stacker unit A and parts of the conductor bar system 92, however, are shown. Suitable equipment of this type is manufactured and/or marketed by the assignee of this application. Any suitable electrification system, however, may be employed. When transferring the stacker unit A between one of the aisles D and the transfer aisle K the member 30 in the stack aisle and the member 88 of the transfer unit B which guide the upper end of the stacker unit, are preferably fixed in alignment with one another by a suitable interlock mechanism 94. The mechanism shown is a power-operated unit generally similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,814, with the carrier stop members omitted. it is also to be understood that the apparatus can be either manually and/or automatically operated in manners also well understood in the so-called automatic warehouse" art.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and improved material-handling apparatus of the automatic warehouse type having a floor-supported traveling stacker unit movable through aisles of tiered storage compartments and transferable from one aisle to another by an overhead supported and movable transfer unit to which the stacker unit may be temporarily connected and raised from its floor support for transfer between aisles and/or a loading and unloading station.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction shown and is merely limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A material-handling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of parallel rows of tiered storage compartments spaced by aisles and including a transverse aisle across one end of said aisles spacing said storage compartments, said apparatus comprising an overhead track along said transverse aisle, a transfer unit comprising a first frame supported by and movable along said track, means to move said transfer unit along said overhead track, a second frame with running gear supporting the same along a base support surface for movement along said aisles spacing said storage compartments, means to drive said second frame along said aisles, vertical mast structure extending upward from said second frame to a height adjacent said first frame, a vertically movable load carrier carried by said mast structure, means carried with said mast structure for moving the load carrier vertically, an abut ment on said mast structure adjacent an upper portion thereof, a support on said transfer unit at a location to underlie said abutment when said second frame is beneath said first frame, said support being movable vertically between a lower position at a level beneath said abutment when said second frame is on a base support surface and an upper position to lift said running gear of said second frame above said support surface therefore, and power means for moving said support vertically relative to said first frame to raise said mast and said second frame when the abutment of the mast structure is located over said support of said transfer unit to lift said second frame and its running gear from its base support surface.

2. A material-handling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of material storage aisles defined by parallel rows of tiered material storage compartments and a transfer aisle along one end of the material storage aisles, said apparatus comprising: a stacker unit movable from the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles into and out of a plurality of the storage aisles and a transfer unit movable in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles for moving the stacker unit from one storage aisle to another; said stacker unit including a base frame with running gear supporting the same on an underneath support surface for movement into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, means for moving said stacker unit on the support surface into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, a vertical mast structure carried by said base frame, a vertically movable material carrier on said mast structure, means for moving the material carrier vertically, a horizontally movable material support carried by said material carrier, and means for moving said material support horizontally; said transfer unit including a frame movable along the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, and means for moving said frame; members on said stacker unit and said transfer unit interengageable with one another when said stacker unit is in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and one of which members is vertically movable; and means for moving the movable one of said members vertically for raising said stacker unit to move said running gear of said stacker unit above said support surface, whereby said stacker unit is transferred from the support surface to said transfer unit for movement from the end of one storage aisle to another.

3. A materialhandling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of material storage aisles defined by parallel rows of tiered material storage compartments and a transfer aisle along one end of the material storage aisles, said apparatus comprising: a stacker unit movable from the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles into and out of a plurality of the storage aisles and a transfer unit movable in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles for moving the stacker unit from one storage aisle to another; said stacker unit including a base frame with running gear supporting the same on an underneath support surface for movement into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, means for moving said stacker unit on the support surface into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, a vertical mast structure carried by said base frame, a vertically movable material carrier on said mast structure, means for moving the material carrier vertically, a horizontally movable material support carried by said material carrier, and means for moving said material support horizontally; an overhead track along the end of the storage aisles; said transfer unit including a frame movable along said overhead track and the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, and means for moving said frame; members on said stacker unit and said transfer unit interengageable with one another when said stacker unit is in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and one of which members is vertically movable; and means for moving the movable one of said members vertically for raising said stacker unit to move said running gear of said stacker unit above said support surface, whereby said stacker unit is transferred from the support surface to said transfer unit for movement from the end of one storage aisle to another. 7

4. A material-handling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of material storage aisles defined by parallel rows of tiered material storage compartments and a transfer aisle along one end of the material storage aisles, said apparatus comprising: a stacker unit movable from the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles into and out of a plurality of the storage aisles and a transfer unit movable in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles for moving the stacker unit from one storage aisle to another; said stacker unit including a base frame with running gear supporting the same on an underneath support surface for movement into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, means for moving said stacker unit on the support surface into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, a vertical mast structure carried by said base frame, a vertically movable material carrier on said mast structure, means for moving the material carrier vertically, a horizontally movable material support carried by said material carrier, and means for moving said material support horizontally; an overhead track along the end of the storage aisles; said transfer unit including a frame movable along said overhead track and the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, and means for moving said frame; members on said mast structure of said stacker unit and said frame of said transfer unit interengageable with one another when said stacker unit is in the transfer aisle at said members vertically for raising said stacker unit to move said running gear of said stacker unit above said support surface, whereby said stacker unit is transferred from the support surface to said transfer unit for movement from the end of one the end of the storage aisles and one of which members is ver- 5 Storage aisle to another' tically movable; and means for moving the movable one of h UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. I 5 3 5 3 Dat d June 8 1971 Inventor-(s) STUART A. MARTIN It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 3, column 4, line 35 after "aisles" and before the insert and along the storage aisles--.

Signed and sealed this 21 st. day of September 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER JR. 4 testing Officer ROBERT GO'FFSCHALIi Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. A material-handling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of parallel rows of tiered storage compartments spaced by aisles and including a transverse aisle across one end of said aisles spacing said storage compartments, said apparatus comprising an overhead track along said transverse aisle, a transfer unit comprising a first frame supported by and movable along said track, means to move said transfer unit along said overhead track, a second frame with running gear supporting the same along a base support surface for movement along said aisles spacing said storage compartments, means tO drive said second frame along said aisles, vertical mast structure extending upward from said second frame to a height adjacent said first frame, a vertically movable load carrier carried by said mast structure, means carried with said mast structure for moving the load carrier vertically, an abutment on said mast structure adjacent an upper portion thereof, a support on said transfer unit at a location to underlie said abutment when said second frame is beneath said first frame, said support being movable vertically between a lower position at a level beneath said abutment when said second frame is on a base support surface and an upper position to lift said running gear of said second frame above said support surface therefore, and power means for moving said support vertically relative to said first frame to raise said mast and said second frame when the abutment of the mast structure is located over said support of said transfer unit to lift said second frame and its running gear from its base support surface.
 2. A material-handling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of material storage aisles defined by parallel rows of tiered material storage compartments and a transfer aisle along one end of the material storage aisles, said apparatus comprising: a stacker unit movable from the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles into and out of a plurality of the storage aisles and a transfer unit movable in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles for moving the stacker unit from one storage aisle to another; said stacker unit including a base frame with running gear supporting the same on an underneath support surface for movement into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, means for moving said stacker unit on the support surface into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, a vertical mast structure carried by said base frame, a vertically movable material carrier on said mast structure, means for moving the material carrier vertically, a horizontally movable material support carried by said material carrier, and means for moving said material support horizontally; said transfer unit including a frame movable along the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, and means for moving said frame; members on said stacker unit and said transfer unit interengageable with one another when said stacker unit is in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and one of which members is vertically movable; and means for moving the movable one of said members vertically for raising said stacker unit to move said running gear of said stacker unit above said support surface, whereby said stacker unit is transferred from the support surface to said transfer unit for movement from the end of one storage aisle to another.
 3. A material-handling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of material storage aisles defined by parallel rows of tiered material storage compartments and a transfer aisle along one end of the material storage aisles, said apparatus comprising: a stacker unit movable from the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles into and out of a plurality of the storage aisles and a transfer unit movable in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles for moving the stacker unit from one storage aisle to another; said stacker unit including a base frame with running gear supporting the same on an underneath support surface for movement into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, means for moving said stacker unit on the support surface into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, a vertical mast structure carried by said base frame, a vertically movable material carrier on said mast structure, means for moving the material carrier vertically, a horizontally movable material support carried by said material carrier, and means foR moving said material support horizontally; an overhead track along the end of the storage aisles; said transfer unit including a frame movable along said overhead track and the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, and means for moving said frame; members on said stacker unit and said transfer unit interengageable with one another when said stacker unit is in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and one of which members is vertically movable; and means for moving the movable one of said members vertically for raising said stacker unit to move said running gear of said stacker unit above said support surface, whereby said stacker unit is transferred from the support surface to said transfer unit for movement from the end of one storage aisle to another.
 4. A material-handling apparatus for use with a storage area comprised of material storage aisles defined by parallel rows of tiered material storage compartments and a transfer aisle along one end of the material storage aisles, said apparatus comprising: a stacker unit movable from the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles into and out of a plurality of the storage aisles and a transfer unit movable in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles for moving the stacker unit from one storage aisle to another; said stacker unit including a base frame with running gear supporting the same on an underneath support surface for movement into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, means for moving said stacker unit on the support surface into and out of the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and along the storage aisles, a vertical mast structure carried by said base frame, a vertically movable material carrier on said mast structure, means for moving the material carrier vertically, a horizontally movable material support carried by said material carrier, and means for moving said material support horizontally; an overhead track along the end of the storage aisles; said transfer unit including a frame movable along said overhead track and the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles, and means for moving said frame; members on said mast structure of said stacker unit and said frame of said transfer unit interengageable with one another when said stacker unit is in the transfer aisle at the end of the storage aisles and one of which members is vertically movable; and means for moving the movable one of said members vertically for raising said stacker unit to move said running gear of said stacker unit above said support surface, whereby said stacker unit is transferred from the support surface to said transfer unit for movement from the end of one storage aisle to another. 